News and Views from ROAR - July 2003

President's Report

I write this column from the vicinity of Rabbit Flat, about 600 km northwest of Alice Springs, in the middle of the Tanami Desert. Lots of camels, termite mounds and spinifex, but not a Pug to be seen anywhere.  At the time of writing, Sue and I have been on the road about 10 days, having travelled from Canberra to Adelaide, then north to Burra, Hawker, Copley, Maree, William Creek, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Yuendumu, and finally Rabbit Flat. From Rabbit Flat we return to Alice Springs, then north to Tennant Creek where we hope to catch up with the Redex Rerun cars. From there we will head for Mt Isa, then probably home through Boulia, Birdsville, Innaminka, Tibooburra and Broken Hill.

Thus far, our rented Toyota Land Cruiser has not missed a beat, though we were somewhat disconcerted to discover that the toolkit lacked a wheel brace when we needed it most. Fortunately we were able to reach help (in Yuendumu) before the offending tyre completely deflated. Since then we have travelled with a borrowed wheel brace, to be returned to its kind owner, Frank Baarda, in Yuendumu, when we pass through there again in a few days time.  From Yuendumu we will have to run the gauntlet back to Alice Springs (about 300 km, half of which is gravel) without the means to change a flat tyre. Fingers crossed!  

I look forward to seeing many of you either at the club dinner on Saturday the 19th, or at French Car Day on Sunday the 20th.  Both events are the highlight of our club year, with the added attraction, this year, of the Redex Rerun cars being in town.

Keep on pugging,

Brad Pillans

brad.pillans@anu.edu.au

P.S. We made it safely back to Alice Springs, where we buy a certain item for our toolkit.  Interestingly, I think I spotted a 504 in a used car yard on the way into town. Will check it out before leaving town.

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